Singers and the Song

This revised edition retains a number of pieces from the original volume, some in expanded form, such as Lees's profile of Frank Sinatra. Lees has also retained his essay on lyric writing, his piece on the art of Edith Piaf, and his admiring look at the genius of songwriter Johnny Mercer. The expanded edition also offers seven new essays. Here readers will find a tribute to "the sweetest voice in the world," Ella Fitzgerald; an interview with Jackie and Roy Kral; Lees's account of his involvement with Bossa Nova music and his collaboration with Antonio Carlos Jobim. We also read about Julius La Rosa, the lyrics of Yip Harburg, Harry Warren's unforgettable compositions, and the elegant Arthur Schwartz, writer of "Dancing in the Dark" and many other songs. Here then is a volume that weaves together portraits of major performers with glimpses into the art of singing and songwriting.